Chapter 142: Raising Doubts

Ji Jiuxuan stood there momentarily stunned, gazing down the path ahead. “So you’re saying Aunt Wen Ying is up there?”

At this moment, Jiuxuan felt no hesitation. The imperial capital competition five years from now no longer held such importance for her.

Her junior uncle had said that no matter what rank she achieved in this competition, he would tell her about the past five years later.

Aunt Wen Ying had been missing for so long. When she left, the system had mentioned that Wen Ying was struggling to control the inner demons tormenting her.

This situation made Jiuxuan unable to suppress her worry.

Now that she had the chance to meet her, she chose without hesitation.

“Yes. Whether she wants to see you depends on the circumstances.”

The system had never expected that entering the ranking match’s illusion realm would bring the host directly here. This place was somewhat connected to the illusory realm but not actually inside it.

Biting her lip, Jiuxuan looked ahead and walked straight forward.

Her expression was resolute. “Aunt Wen Ying will see me.”

Gradually, Jiuxuan ran faster and faster, but all around were only white trees—nothing else.

Standing amidst the endless white, biting her lip, a bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart. Upon arriving in this world, the first faces she saw were her father, mother, and Wen Ying. Over the years, she had experienced familial love and warmth, yet her parents had vanished without a trace, and Wen Ying’s situation remained unknown.

She was desperate to know how Wen Ying was doing.

“Aunt Ying, you’re here, right? I know you’re here. Please come out and see Jiu, okay?”

“Jiu misses you so much. Please come out and see Jiu, please?”

“Aunt Ying…”

After waiting for a long time, still there was no movement. The familiar aura remained strong, not dissipated at all. Jiuxuan knew Wen Ying was definitely here.

This only deepened her worry. She had known from the start that Wen Ying was tormented by demonic energy.

The system had said she could suppress it, and there was no problem in the short term.

Yet after such a long time, sensing Wen Ying’s presence without seeing her caused Jiuxuan’s concern to grow.

She was a very strong person who rarely cried, but now her eyes involuntarily grew moist.

“Aunt Ying, Jiu is worried about you. Please come out and see Jiu, okay?”

Suddenly she recalled that Wen Ying had said she would seal herself off, and sometimes when in seclusion, she simply could not come out.

Sensing the aura still around, Jiuxuan took a deep breath and finally said, “Aunt Ying, if it’s inconvenient for you to come out and see Jiu, could you at least signal to Jiu whether you are safe and sound?”

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A sigh echoed in response, Wen Ying’s voice as tender as ever yet tinged with longing. “Jiu, go back. Auntie is fine. Focus on your competition. When Auntie’s seclusion ends, I will return.”

Inside a secluded cave in the forest, Wen Ying gazed into a giant mirror showing everything in the woods. Looking at the little girl she had raised since childhood, her eyes filled with affection and tenderness.

Demonic energy continuously seeped from her left hand. Wen Ying frowned slightly, formed hand seals with her right, and pressed down on the encroaching demonic energy.

Pain contorted her face, but she was accustomed to it and soon calmed. Her voice was infinitely gentle, with no hint of abnormality.

“Jiu, focus on the ranking match. Auntie is watching! Show Auntie how much you’ve improved, okay?”

Jiuxuan stood there, a warm breeze brushing past her, the sky clearing above.

“Be good and go back. If you see Auntie, you won’t be able to continue the competition.”

“Turn back.”

Jiuxuan remained silent, looking around. “System, do you know how Aunt Wen Ying is doing now?”

The system was right—whether Wen Ying wanted to come out depended on the situation.

Jiuxuan knew Wen Ying’s character well; if she decided not to come out, she wouldn’t.

“The situation is fairly stable. Don’t worry. When you grow stronger, you’ll be able to help her.” The system sensed the soul fragment sleeping in the host’s dantian and made no reaction to its presence, gradually easing Jiuxuan’s heart.

“Alright. Jiu will go back. Auntie, take care.” She saluted toward the front. Since Wen Ying spoke, Jiuxuan had sensed her in that direction.

Wen Ying’s voice did not return. After standing a moment, Jiuxuan resolutely turned and headed back the way she came.

“System, do you really think Aunt Wen Ying can see my performance in the ranking match?” Knowing Wen Ying had no need to deceive her, Jiuxuan’s heart was already eager, but she still asked hesitantly, hoping for affirmation.

“Yes.”

Unlike before, Jiuxuan felt the aura ahead grow stronger as she walked, as if the place was suddenly bustling.

“System, why do I lose my competition eligibility after seeing Wen Ying?” This puzzled her. Could Wen Ying be connected to this competition illusion?

“The competition illusion judges the participant’s condition. If Wen Ying appears, the illusion might consider you in danger and immediately teleport you out. This causes you to lose eligibility.”

The system’s explanation made Jiuxuan understand immediately. “Isn’t that a false judgment?”

If misjudged, wouldn’t the competitor be unfairly treated?

Sensing the intensifying aura, Jiuxuan relaxed her spiritual sense and found a pack of silver wolves nearby.

A child’s sword appeared in her hand. She concealed her aura and continued forward.

Silver wolves were third-tier spirit beasts. For her, dealing with all of them was no problem. Since she had decided to participate in the ranking match, she would not lose face—her ranking must rise as high as possible.

---

Though this went against her usual strategy of playing dumb, Aunt Ying was watching!

At this moment, Jiuxuan felt like a child who had done well and wanted to show off before her parents.

Inside the cave, Wen Ying observed the little girl. Although she could sense the silver wolves, Jiuxuan showed no retreat. Instead, she quickened her pace.

Wen Ying’s eyes held both worry and excitement, eager to see how much the girl had grown.

Nearby, Jiuxuan stealthily approached the silver wolf pack. With the swift flowing Shadow Leap step, her sword danced swiftly among the wolves.

Before the wolves could react, Jiuxuan had already defeated them all.

The slain silver wolves transformed into glowing points of light, which then entered the token hanging from Jiuxuan’s waist. The zero displayed on it began to flicker.

Full of fighting spirit, Jiuxuan did not stop. This time she did not walk slowly but extended her spiritual sense, avoiding populated areas, finding spirit beast groups, and using the Shadow Leap step to move swiftly.

Among all disciples, in terms of speed, Jiuxuan was undoubtedly the fastest.

Although searching for Wen Ying had cost her much time, her method caused the numbers to soar continuously.

“Look, Jiuxuan’s name is rising so fast!”

In the spectator stands, watching the rankings and numbers displayed on the mirror, someone couldn’t help but exclaim.

This outburst attracted the attention of other disciples, causing a stir. Even the elders noticed.

The presiding elder immediately changed one section of the display to Jiuxuan’s perspective, showing all her movements clearly on the mirror.

The Shadow Leap step was a supreme technique of the Xuantian Sect, rarely mastered. Jiuxuan’s speed was so fast that if not for the display, fellow disciples of the same rank present would not have noticed her presence.

Her rapid swordsmanship was equally astonishing.

“Weren’t people saying Junior Sister Jiuxuan was lazy and unskilled? Is this laziness and lack of skill?” someone questioned aloud.

Thank you to He Yiju You for the monthly support, much appreciated!

Thank you to Chuxia Yeshe for the monthly support, many thanks!

(End of chapter)